Picture courtesy of CNN | AP

 

An activist group that aims to break Israel's blockade on Gaza by sea claimed that one of its main vessels was struck by a drone in Tunisia on Monday night. The incident left all six passengers and crew members unharmed. Tunisia’s National Guard, however, refuted claims of an attack, suggesting instead that a fire resulted from a lighter or cigarette butt.

 

The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), which includes around 50 boats attempting to breach the blockade, released a video showing an incendiary object falling from the sky and igniting upon hitting the boat.

 

The affected vessel, named the “Family Boat”, is Portuguese-flagged and sustained significant fire damage to the main deck and below-deck storage areas. Activists had departed from Barcelona and were sailing towards Gaza, carrying aid and aiming to highlight their cause.

 

The flotilla has drawn attention due to the involvement of prominent figures such as Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and Irish actor Liam Cunningham. Thunberg, a high-profile member of the flotilla, was not on the "Family Boat" during the incident, according to activist Yusuf Omar. Miguel Duarte, another activist on board, reported hearing a drone hovering overhead just before the incident.

 

Despite the National Guard's denial of a drone attack, the conflicting accounts add tension to the mission's already delicate nature. Differing narratives highlight the complexity of the flotilla's ongoing struggle against what they describe as a suffocating blockade on Gaza. The event has sparked further scrutiny and discussion regarding the flotilla’s activities and intentions.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Activist group claims boat was hit by a drone, but Tunisia disputes this.
• The incident involved the “Family Boat,” a key vessel in the flotilla.
• Figures like Greta Thunberg are involved, though absent during the event.

Related Stories:

 

• Greta Thunberg's Gaza Flotilla Sparks Tensions in Tunisia
• Greta Thunberg Joins Activists in Blockade of Norway's Largest Gas Plant

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from CNN 2025-09-10

 

 

Even the Tunisians can't stand her.

 

If she were sensible she'd pack up and go home. Treat this as a warning. Go wait for some icebergs to melt or something. She was treated very well last time, I suspect people's patience is wearing thin.

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thunberg, a high-profile member of the flotilla, was not on the "Family Boat" during the incident, according to activist Yusuf Omar.

 

Where was she?  On another ship?  Resting on land until the flotilla get closer to Israel? Maybe Greta is aboard in name only.

I wonder if Greta was around for this one?

 

Flotilla for Gaza reports second drone attack on boat at Tunisian port

SIDI BOU SAID, Tunisia, Sept 10 (Reuters) - The Global Sumud Flotilla, an international aid initiative to deliver vital supplies to Gaza, said on Wednesday that one of its boats was attacked by a drone at a Tunisian port, the second such strike in two days.

The GSF, which is seeking to break Israel's naval blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to war-torn Gaza using civilian boats, said in a statement that all passengers and crew were unharmed.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/flotilla-gaza-reports-second-drone-attack-boat-tunisian-port-2025-09-10/

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Tunisia’s National Guard, however, refuted claims of an attack, suggesting instead that a fire resulted from a lighter or cigarette butt.

 

A cigarette butt dropped from an aeroplane it must be then.

 

4 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

A cigarette butt dropped from an aeroplane it must be then.

 

 

 

Other reports indicate it looked more like a flare fired by someone on the boat.  It's that old Wile E Coyote gag...  What goes up...

 

BTW...  Tunisian port.  That's not very close to Gaza, is it?

 

 

 

Nothing that Israel and the IDF do surprises me any more.

 

From attacking the Hamas peace negotiating team in neutral Doha (Saudi Arabia protested the bombing, but the IDF MUST have flown across Saudi),(Both states are US allies) to a possible drone attack on a flotilla carrying food to the blockaded Palestinians, Israel is getting to be more of a pariah state every day,

 

With an uncaring lunatic like Netanyahu as the PM and a criminal Zionist war cabinet, they deserve what is due to them.

 

I hope that all of the Israeli people are not collectively punished.

Going up or coming down.

17 minutes ago, billd766 said:

Nothing that Israel and the IDF do surprises me any more.

 

From attacking the Hamas peace negotiating team in neutral Doha (Saudi Arabia protested the bombing, but the IDF MUST have flown across Saudi),(Both states are US allies) to a possible drone attack on a flotilla carrying food to the blockaded Palestinians, Israel is getting to be more of a pariah state every day,

 

With an uncaring lunatic like Netanyahu as the PM and a criminal Zionist war cabinet, they deserve what is due to them.

 

I hope that all of the Israeli people are not collectively punished.

The Hamas leadership that was sent a reminder that they are being watched was not a negotiating team. They never had any intention of negotiating. You really do not understand the Hamas mentality or strategy.

On 9/10/2025 at 10:12 AM, billd766 said:

Nothing that Israel and the IDF do surprises me any more.

 

From attacking the Hamas peace negotiating team in neutral Doha (Saudi Arabia protested the bombing, but the IDF MUST have flown across Saudi),(Both states are US allies) to a possible drone attack on a flotilla carrying food to the blockaded Palestinians, Israel is getting to be more of a pariah state every day,

 

With an uncaring lunatic like Netanyahu as the PM and a criminal Zionist war cabinet, they deserve what is due to them.

 

I hope that all of the Israeli people are not collectively punished.

 

Why do you think that this is Israel's doing?
It looks likely to me that some idiot was fooling with a flare that went up and came down again (as indicated by the Tunisian authorities).

29 minutes ago, loong said:

 

Why do you think that this is Israel's doing?
It looks likely to me that some idiot was fooling with a flare that went up and came down again (as indicated by the Tunisian authorities).

And which other country is likely to be responsible? Have you forgotten or ignored the last shipload of relief supplies that was intercepted by Israel and towed to an Israeli port,

 

How about when a ship was intercepted in the Mediterranean by Israel and one of the crew was killed by the IDF.

 

If you think  that some idiot was fooling with a flare that went up and came down again, perhaps you need new glasses. 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly67g7pdlko

On 9/11/2025 at 11:01 AM, billd766 said:

And which other country is likely to be responsible? Have you forgotten or ignored the last shipload of relief supplies that was intercepted by Israel and towed to an Israeli port,

 

How about when a ship was intercepted in the Mediterranean by Israel and one of the crew was killed by the IDF.

 

If you think  that some idiot was fooling with a flare that went up and came down again, perhaps you need new glasses. 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly67g7pdlko

 

The Tunisian authorities have stated that there was no drone attack.
You just want to blame Israel even though there is absolutely no proof.
If it was an attack, it's just as likely to be for that very reason. Those responsible know that useful idiots around the world are certain to blame Israel.

3 hours ago, loong said:

 

The Tunisian authorities have stated that there was no drone attack.
You just want to blame Israel even though there is absolutely no proof.
If it was an attack, it's just as likely to be for that very reason. Those responsible know that useful idiots around the world are certain to blame Israel.

A nice response. What a pity that you did noy answer my simple question, but wandered off topic

On 9/13/2025 at 4:10 PM, billd766 said:

A nice response. What a pity that you did noy answer my simple question, but wandered off topic

 

The topic in this thread is the suspected drone attack on the flotilla.
I stayed completely on topic.

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